Vangueria infausta

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Gentianales

Familia: Rubiaceae
Subfamilia: Ixoroideae
Tribus: Vanguerieae
Genus: Vangueria
Species: Vangueria infausta
Name

Vangueria infausta Burch.
References

Travels in the interior of Southern Africa 2:258. 1824
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Vangueria infausta in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: African medlar / wild medlar
Nederlands: wilde mispel

Vangueria infausta, the medlar[1] or African medlar, is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae, which is native to the southern and eastern Afrotropics. Some other names for V. infausta in Southern African languages include mmilo in Northern Sotho, muzwilu in Venḓa, umviyo in Southern Ndebele, mothwani in Tswana and umtulwa in Zulu.[2][3][4][5]

The fruits are consumed by humans and have a pleasant apple-like flavor. The specific name infausta alludes to a superstition that an evil spirit lives within the tree and the misfortune from its use as firewood which is said to 'unlock' the evil spirit from the wood.[6] Many indigenous african names for V. infausta come from the Prot-Bantu mìdìdò (plural "fires").[7][8][9][10]

Description

The trees are low-branching[6] and mostly smallish but may reach 8 m in height. They have drooping branchlets and have pale greyish brown, flaky bark.[11] The fairly large, dull leaves have entire margins and are somewhat variable in shape. They have an opposite arrangement and conspicuous net-veining below.[11] Young leaves are boat-shaped and recurved along the central vein.[6]

Dense clusters of robust green flowers develop from pointed buds in spring. Each velvety flower is about 4 mm long and 6 mm wide, and are carried on opposite and axillary cymes.[11] The corolla is dropped early.

The initially green and glossy fruit appear in summer, and bear the remains of the calyx around their tips.[6] They develop into unevenly shaped, glossy, tan-coloured plums, that contain soft fleshy pulp and fairly large seeds.[11]
Range

This shrub or small tree occurs in abundance in woodlands, scrub, valleys, stony kopjies, or sandy dunes throughout much of Southern and East Africa, including Madagascar. In Africa it is native to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.[11] It may be found from 350[11] to 1,330 m above sea level.[6]
Uses

The African medlar is a traditional food plant in Africa. This little-known fruit has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land care.[12] The fruit are consumed raw or the pulp may be dried and stored for later use, while the seeds may be roasted.[11] Goats and game browse on the leaves, while other animals may consume the fruit on the tree, or after they are shed on the ground.[6][11] The roots and leaves are used by traditional healers.[6][11]

Thin twigs are prone to being populated by spittlebugs.

The boat-shaped leaves

Acalitus mite galls on leaves

Flowers

Fruit

References

"Vangueria infausta". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
"About Mmilo Tours in South Africa: SA National Park Tours".
"Wild Medlar - South African Indigenous Fruit".
"Vangueria infausta | PlantZAfrica".
"Vangueria infausta wild medlar wilde mispel mpfilwa mmilo muzwilu, mavelo umviyo, umtulwa umvilo umbizo, umviyo mmilo, mothwany umvile, amantulwane".
Thomas, Val; Rina Grant (2001). Sappi tree spotting: Highlands: Highveld, Drakensberg, Eastern Cape mountains (3rd ed.). Johannesburg: Jacana. p. 264. ISBN 978-1-77009-561-8.
"About Mmilo Tours in South Africa: SA National Park Tours".
"Wild Medlar - South African Indigenous Fruit".
"Vangueria infausta | PlantZAfrica".
"Vangueria infausta wild medlar wilde mispel mpfilwa mmilo muzwilu, mavelo umviyo, umtulwa umvilo umbizo, umviyo mmilo, mothwany umvile, amantulwane".
Orwa C, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, Simons A (2009). "Vangueria infausta, Rubiaceae". Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. worldagroforestry.org. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
National Research Council (2008-01-25). "Medlars". Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Lost Crops of Africa. 3. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved 2008-08-01.